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Personal info

Full name
JOSEPH, Merle Pearson
Date of birth
10 August 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
Kaw City, Kay County, Oklahoma
Hometown
Schuyler County, New York

Military service

Service number
O-825447
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
77th Fighter Squadron,
20th Fighter Group
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
2 December 1944
Place of death
Diksmuide, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 38 22

Immediate family

Members
August L. Joseph (father)
Birdie M. Joseph (mother)
Austa (Kneedler) Joseph (sister)
Beatrice M. Joseph (sister)
Shirley F. Joseph (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
44-13824
Data
Type: P-51D
Mission: Bomber Escort
MACR: 10821

More information

2nd Lt Merle P. Joseph attended high school for 4 years and was a construction and maintenance painter. He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Elmira, New York on 29 October 1942.

On route to the target, Lt. Joseph was acting as escort to Lt. Hall who had coolant trouble. Lt. Joseph was heard on the radio for a homing to Valenciennes, France. No further information about what happened is not available.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, MACR 10821, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / Headstone and Interment Record / 1930 Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, 20 FG Project